PUB2605
Portfolio
DUE: 22 MAY 2026
, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
PORTFOLIO OF EVIDENCE
PUB2605 – EDUCATION AND CULTURE SERVICES
May/June 2026
Due Date: Friday, 22 May 2026 at 14h00
First Examiner: Dr PAP Mabotha
Second Examiner: Prof XC Thani
Department of Public Administration and Management
College of Economic and Management Sciences
,Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 3
2. QUESTION 1: CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING .................................................... 4
2.1 Question 1.1: A Critical Discussion of the Evolution of Public Education Systems 4
2.2 Question 1.2: Democratisation of Education and Global Educational Inequalities . 8
3. QUESTION 2: ANALYTICAL APPLICATION – CATEGORIES OF GOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS .................................................................................................................. 12
3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 12
3.2 Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) ...................................................................... 12
3.3 Intragovernmental Relations ................................................................................ 13
3.4 Extragovernmental Relations ............................................................................... 15
3.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 16
4. QUESTION 3: CASE STUDY – MACRO-ORGANISATION OF RESEARCH IN
SOUTH AFRICA ........................................................................................................... 17
4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 17
4.2 Key Role-Players in the Macro-Organisation of Research ................................... 17
4.3 The Relationship between Science, Technology and Education .......................... 20
4.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 21
5. CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................... 22
6. LIST OF SOURCES .................................................................................................. 24
, 1. INTRODUCTION
Public administration as an academic discipline and professional practice occupies a
central place in shaping the quality of life of citizens and the development trajectory of
nations. This portfolio of evidence engages with four critical pillars examined in PUB2605:
Education and Culture Services, namely the evolution of public education, the
democratisation of education, governmental relations, and the public science and
technology system in South Africa.
South Africa presents a particularly instructive case study in each of these areas. As a
country that emerged from the deeply inequitable apartheid system into a constitutional
democracy in 1994, it has had to simultaneously restructure its educational institutions,
redesign intergovernmental frameworks, and build a competitive national science and
technology (S&T) system. These challenges reflect broader global trends while bearing
distinctly South African characteristics shaped by history, geography, and political
economy.
This portfolio is structured to respond to all three examination questions in a systematic
and academically rigorous manner. Each response draws on the prescribed study
material, relevant legislation, policy documents, and additional academic sources.
Practical public sector examples are integrated throughout to demonstrate the application
of theory, as required by the assessment criteria.
The arguments advanced in this portfolio are the student's own analytical engagement
with the subject matter. All sources are acknowledged in accordance with the Harvard
referencing convention.
Portfolio
DUE: 22 MAY 2026
, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
PORTFOLIO OF EVIDENCE
PUB2605 – EDUCATION AND CULTURE SERVICES
May/June 2026
Due Date: Friday, 22 May 2026 at 14h00
First Examiner: Dr PAP Mabotha
Second Examiner: Prof XC Thani
Department of Public Administration and Management
College of Economic and Management Sciences
,Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 3
2. QUESTION 1: CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING .................................................... 4
2.1 Question 1.1: A Critical Discussion of the Evolution of Public Education Systems 4
2.2 Question 1.2: Democratisation of Education and Global Educational Inequalities . 8
3. QUESTION 2: ANALYTICAL APPLICATION – CATEGORIES OF GOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS .................................................................................................................. 12
3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 12
3.2 Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) ...................................................................... 12
3.3 Intragovernmental Relations ................................................................................ 13
3.4 Extragovernmental Relations ............................................................................... 15
3.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 16
4. QUESTION 3: CASE STUDY – MACRO-ORGANISATION OF RESEARCH IN
SOUTH AFRICA ........................................................................................................... 17
4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 17
4.2 Key Role-Players in the Macro-Organisation of Research ................................... 17
4.3 The Relationship between Science, Technology and Education .......................... 20
4.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 21
5. CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................... 22
6. LIST OF SOURCES .................................................................................................. 24
, 1. INTRODUCTION
Public administration as an academic discipline and professional practice occupies a
central place in shaping the quality of life of citizens and the development trajectory of
nations. This portfolio of evidence engages with four critical pillars examined in PUB2605:
Education and Culture Services, namely the evolution of public education, the
democratisation of education, governmental relations, and the public science and
technology system in South Africa.
South Africa presents a particularly instructive case study in each of these areas. As a
country that emerged from the deeply inequitable apartheid system into a constitutional
democracy in 1994, it has had to simultaneously restructure its educational institutions,
redesign intergovernmental frameworks, and build a competitive national science and
technology (S&T) system. These challenges reflect broader global trends while bearing
distinctly South African characteristics shaped by history, geography, and political
economy.
This portfolio is structured to respond to all three examination questions in a systematic
and academically rigorous manner. Each response draws on the prescribed study
material, relevant legislation, policy documents, and additional academic sources.
Practical public sector examples are integrated throughout to demonstrate the application
of theory, as required by the assessment criteria.
The arguments advanced in this portfolio are the student's own analytical engagement
with the subject matter. All sources are acknowledged in accordance with the Harvard
referencing convention.
